Skip to content
Subscriber Only

Seizing Superyachts of Russia’s Elite Is Harder Than It Sounds

  • Politicians’ tough talk belies strict property laws, crypto
  • Russia’s rich amassed fortunes long ago, complicating matters
Bloomberg business news
Biden Says Russia Sanctions Have Had 'Profound' Impact
Updated on

Politicians around the world have made a show of talking tough about taking away the comforts of Russia’s wealthy elite after the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Yet actually seizing those assets will be much more difficult.

There are layers of shell companies and vast troves of wealth hidden in tax havens. Elites might transfer assets to relatives or, in the case of superyachts and private jets, park them in out-of-reach jurisdictions. Cryptocurrencies further complicate the global hunt.